Football Academy Faculty

Kurt Husnu - Head Coach

Kurt is one of the youngest coaches in England to hold the FA’s prestigious UEFA A Licence. He was one of the few coaches in England to be offered support by the Football Association as part of their COACH Bursary Programme. He has coached for approximately 10 years working with players from the grassroots level to the professional level. Kurt is currently an academy coach at Southend United Football Club and enjoys helping players develop.

Kurt played for Millwall Football Club from ages 11-16 on a schoolboy contract and then moved to Southend United FC as a scholar. Kurt spent three years at Southend United FC playing regularly for the youth and reserve teams.

He started his own football coaching company in 2010, First Kick Football, and he has gone on to coach at Southend United FC as an academy coach and he is currently working for Cambridge United FC in their recruitment team. As well as coaching at the College Stuart is also the coach for Brentwood Town FC under 21s. He has helped develop players for both professional and semi-professional clubs.

Stuart was a youth team player at Southend United FC and he was also a scholar at Boston United FC. Stuart spent the rest of his playing career at a number of semi-professional clubs.

Ben Blatchford - Strength, Fitness & Conditioning Coach

Ben is one of the very few students to be awarded the opportunity to do an apprenticeship qualification at Havering College based on his academic and sport performance. Ben was awarded sports student of the year in 2014/15.

Ben is currently studying a sports development apprenticeship, he is also the strength and conditioning coach for the Football Academy.

Ben is also a qualified Level 2 Fitness Instructor along with being a Level 3 personal trainer. He manages the college gym on a daily basis helping the Football Academy players, college students and staff achieve their fitness goals. Ben’s speciality is improving aerobic endurance, power, speed and strength levels for sport and exercise. Ben also coaches the goalkeepers on the academy and assists with the defensive elements of training.

Ben completed the Football Academy course last year achieving a triple Merit grade which is equivalent to 3 A Levels. During his second year he was proud to captain the Football Academy. Ben has also achieved an FA Level 1 Coaching qualification.